The survey revealed that 60% of teachers felt they had not received adequate training to teach pupils with autism, and 35% reported that families were finding it increasingly difficult to find a school with the correct provisions in place to meet the SEN of their child.

An explanation for the decline in educational standards for children with autism may be the 6.5% rise in the number of children attending school with their statement of SEN citing autism as a primary need compared to 2012.

The charity’s Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Clare Bull, complained: “Given that 71 per cent of children with autism are educated in mainstream schools, providing teachers with the correct training to support pupils with autism is vital”